Coin-controlled mechanism.



PATENTBD OCT. 2

l R. W. GUEB'. Y @om GONTROLLBD MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB, 13

the arms ofthe locking member being shown can be returned to the operator under certain UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

RUDOLPH WM. GOEB,`OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO THE CONTROLLER COMPANY OF AMERICA, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURL' A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2, 1906.

Application filed February 13, 1903. Serial No. 143.176.

To LM whom it WI/cay concern: Be it known that I, RUDOLPH WM. GOEE, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Coin-Controlled Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speciiication, in which- Figure'l is a side elevation, the casing and a portion of the locking member being. shown in section and a portion of the casing and the telephone-receiver being broken away. Fig. 2 is a front elevation, a portion of the iront plate of the casing being removed and one of in section, this view also indicating the circuits g and Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, with the top of the casing removed.

My invention relates to improvements in coin-controlled mechanism,v and more particularly to means whereby a coin can be returned to the operator under certain conditions.

Among my objects are to provide an erhcient mechanism by means of which a coin conditions, to provide means whereby the particular coin deposited by a given person can be returned to such person, and to so combine the coin-returning. mechanism with mechanism for releasing the locking mechanism without the aid of a coin that both said releasing mechanism and said coin-returning mechanism can be operated from a single source of energy. i

To these ends and also to improve gener-- ally upon mechanisms of the character indicated my invention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed.

I have here shown the present invention as combined with and Jforming part of the mechanism for locking a telephone. x

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I indicates a telephone-box of any usual or preferred construction, and 2 the receiver suspension-hook extending from the same, the receiver being indicated as 3. A box or casing A, suitably supported at the side of the telephone-box, as by being con-l nected to a wall or other support, contains Vthe -suspension-hook.

within the casing is a locking-lever 10, which.

the hereinafter-mentioned locking mechanism and is provided with a coin-slot or raceway 6. lThe iront wall of the casing is provided with a horizontal slot 7, and pivotally supported to rotate through said slot is a spider-plate 8, having arms 9, these arms successively projecting beyond the casing as the plate is rotated and being spaced from each other a suI'Iicient distance to permit the telephone-receiver 3 to lie between any adjacent arms when the receiver is supported upon Pivotally supported has a coin-receiving arm 11 projecting upon one side of the pivot and extending under the raceway 6 and has also a locking-arm l2, which when the parts are in normal position lies slightly above the plane in which 'the arms or' the spider-plate rotate. 4A iinge'r or projection 13 depends from the free end of the locking-arm 12, and when the said arm is in normal locking position a suitable portion of said finger or projection lies the path of travel and slightly in advance of one of the arms 9 of the spider-plate or receiver locking element. The locking-lever is also provided with a stop-arm 14, which extends under the locked arm 9 of the spider-plate and is adapted to engage said arm when the locking-arm of the lever is thrown upwardly and to thus limit the initial movement of the lockinglever, so that said lever will not initially be thrown into such position 'that the coin is deposited from the coin-receiving arm 1l.

Suitably supported within the casing, and here shown as above the locking-lever' 10, is an electromagnet 16, and a releasing-lever 18',- which normally hangs awayfrom said magnet and out of releasing position, is suitably pivote'd and providedv with an armature 17, which coperates with said magnet. The upper portion of the coin-receiving arm 11 is provided with a notch 14h, adapted to receive the free end of said releasing-lever. The said electromagnet is included in a circuit provided with a suitable push-button or other switch.

Except Jfor certain details of construction and arrangement of the parts the constrfrcI` tion and operation of the mechanism hereto-1 fore described is old and well known, and it is i locking-lever carrying the locking-arm overbalances the side carrying the coin-receiving arm, so that when the parts are in normal positions the locking-lever serves to lock the receiver-locking element 8 in position, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, this receiver-locking element in turn locking the receiver against removal from its supporting-hook. When a coin is deposited in the raceway, it falls upon the coin-receiving arm. 11 and serves to elevate the locking-arm 12 sufliciently to release the said receiver-locking element, the engagement of the stop-arm 14 with the under surface of said receiver-locking element preventing full movement ofv said locking-leverand causing the locking-lever to remain in the position to which it has just been thrown, with the coin supported upon the coin-receiving arm 11. As the receiver is withdrawn from its hook the receiver-locking element is rotated to carry out of engagement with the stop-arm 14 the arm 9, which has heretofore obstructed the full movement its its coin, said locking-lever then falling into position to again lock the receiver-locking element when the receiver is again placed upon theI hook and such locking element is moved during such replacing ofthe receiver. If it be desired to release the said locking-'le'- ver without the use of a coin, the electromagnet 16 is energized, whereu 'on the releasinglever 13 is thrown until its ree end enters the said movement rocking the locking-lever sufficient-ly to carry the locking edge 13Il of the iinger13 out` of, locking position and to bring the inclinededge 13b of said projection in the line of movement of the arm 9, which has been locked. Byreas'on of the engagement ofthe releasing-lever in the said notch v the locking-lever is held in thisunlocking position, and upon movement of the receiverlocking element the said arm 9 engages the said inclined surface 13b, and thus rocks the locking-lever sufiicientlyto release` the releasing-lever, and thereby permit saidl lookin lever and releasing-lever to return t'o their normal positions. y j

The coin-raceway 6 extends below the free end of the coin-receiving arm 11 and is produced between the rear wall of the casing anda plate 50, a discharge-raceway 51 having its open upper end below the raceway 6 in order to receive a coin from said raceway 6 and to deliver the same to a p oint at which it can be conveniently obtained by the user of livery racewayl being here shown as eX- tending beyond one side wall of the casing had rested.

.turned to produce a coin-support 56, which normally lies under and closes the lower end of said raceway 6'. The said raceway 6 is A lever 53, conveniently pivoted by preferably adjacent one of the side walls of the casing, as clearly shown in Figi, so that said side wall prevents escape of a coin from one end of the said support 56. The said vsupport 56 inclines downwardly away from said end closed by said casing-wall and is then slightly upturned to' produce a finger vor stop 57 ,f which prevents a coin from rolling from the said supporting-plate' 56" by reason of its own impetus. The upper ari'n of the coin-returning lever 53 is provided with an armature 58, which cooperates with a suit-1v able electromagnet 59, supported upon and withinA the saidcasing.

Under normal conditions thencoin-releas-` ing lever 53 lies in the' position indicated in the drawings, with its armature away' from the said magnet 59 and its coin-'supporting end plate 56 b'elow and' closing the open end of the coin-receiving raceway 6". When now a coin is deposited in said raceway, it serves to release thev telephone-'receiver in the' man-- ner heretofore explained and then falls upon the supporting-plate'' of said coin-returning lever 53. to secure the desired connection, the coin is 1f for any reason, such `as failure to be returned tothe depositor, it is only necj essary for central or some other authorized 3 person to energize the magnet 59, whereupon the coin-returning lever 53 is rockedto carry said notch 14h, the said releasing-lever in its its supporting-plate 56 from under the coin', and said coin drops into the deliveryeraceway 51 and is presented to the depositor. We will assume, however, that the first user' has obtained the desired connection and is there'- fore not entitled to the return of his coin.- Theuser returns the receiver to its supporting-hook, thereby causing the ysame to be locked upon the telephone", andthe coin X remains supported, as shown in Fig. A2. The coin of the' next user after bein' released from the coin-receiving' arm 11 stri es the in; ner side of the previously-deposited coin X, (the space between the innery edgev of said coin and the opposite edge of the ia'c'eway being less than the width of the coin intended to operate the mechanism,) and thus drives said previously-deposited coin from the supporting-v late 5 6 andover they end of the de# tainingnger '57, whereby said previouslydeposited coin is forced 'into the portion of the' casing which acts as a `coin'-r`eceptacle, said s econdedeposited coin rema'iiiiiigsup'- ported 'upon the coiner'eturning lever 53 in the position in which the first-deposited coin If therefore it becomes necessary to return the coin to' thesecond user,

and terminatingin an open coin-receptacle l this is done by energizing' the magnet 59 and IOO causing the coin-returning lever 53 to operate, as previously explained, the said second user receiving the particular coin which he himself deposited. Inthis manner it is impossible for a person to deposit aspurious or worthless coin and receive a good one in exchange therefor. Tt is to be noted that after falling from the coin-receiving arm 11 a coin strikes the supporting-plate 56, and thus has the force of its fall broken, the coin then rolling gently at an angle to the line of its former travel until it is brought to rest by the finger 57. The outer end of the finger 57 is of course so placed with relation to the open mouth of the delivery-chute 51 that a coin passing over said finger end falls beyond the said mouth.

Such being the construction and operation of the coin-returning mechanism per se, the circuit including its operating-magnet 59 and the relationship between the coin-returning mechanism and the locking-lever-releasing mechanism are now to be considered.

Suitably supported within the casing and insulated therefrom and out of electrical connection with each other are two terminals 60 and 61, each of which is provided upon its outer end with a projection or stop-finger 62, and movable across the said terminals in-or der to make contact with either, its said movement being limited by the before-mentioned stop-fingers 62, is a switch-arm 63,

'which moves with the said receiver-locking element 8.

One of the terminals, as the terminal 60, is electrically connected to one pole of the releasing-lever-operating magnet 16, as by the wire a, while the other of said terminals is connected, as by the wire b, with one pole of the coin-returning-lever-operating magnet, the opposite pole of each of said magnets being connected to one pole of a suitable source of electrical energy, such as the battery B. These connections are here shown as the wire c, extending from the magnet 59 to the said pole of said battery, and a wire d, extending from the magnet 16 to the said wire c. The opposite pole of the said battery is connected by the line-wire e to one terminal of the switch D, the other terminal of said switch being connected by the line-wire f to the casing 4, which is electrically connected to the said switch-arm 63. This switch-arm is so connected to the receiver-locking element 8 that when the same is in locked and locking position, as shown in the drawings, (see particularly Fig. 3,) the switch-lever 63 is in contact with the terminal 60, and the releasing-lever-operating magnet is therefore in the circuit from the battery, the coinreturning-lever-operating magnet being cut out of the battery-circuit by reason of the break between the terminal 61 and the said switch-arm. Therefore if the said switch be closed the magnet 16 will be energized and the locking-lever will be thrown into unlocking position, while the coin-returning mechanism will be in no manner affected. When, however, the receiver-locking element is unlocked and thrown into unlocking position, the switch-lever 63 moves with it and engages the terminal 61, whereby the coinreturning-lever-operating magnet is thrown into the battery-circuit and the releasinglever-operating magnet is cut out therefrom. Therefore if when the said receiver-locking element is in unlocking position the switch D be closed the coin-returning mechanism will be operated, but the locking-lever-releasing mechanism will not be affected. By reason of the arrangement just described I am enabled to employ a single source of energy and a single switch, together with very simple wiring, for the urpose of independently operating both t e locking-leverreleasing mechanism and the coin-returning mechanism.

For the purposes of the present invention the location of the switch D is wholly immaterial, it being only necessary that the switch be so located that it can be operated by the person who is to control the mechanism herein described. Tf central is to control the releasing mechanism and the coin-returning mechanism, the switch D can be located at the central office. Tf the lessee of the telephone is to control the releasing mechanism and the coin-returning mechanism, the switch can be located at the place at which the telephone is erected.

Manifestly many forms of switch-arms 63 can be employed, and such arms can be electrically connected to the casing in many ways. As here shown, however, said arm comprises a stamped plate having. a split body portion 64, which is received in a circular recess 65 in the upper side of the pivoted receiver-locking element 8,- said recess being concentric with the pivot-pin of said element. Above substantially the central axis of said pivot-pin said body portion is provided with a projection or struck-up point 66, which forcibly bears upon an extension 67 upon one of the casing-plates and projecting over the said pivot-pin, whereby said switch-arm is by reason of its own resiliency forcibly held between the said casing extension 67 and the said receiverlocking element. From said body portion 64 an arm 68 projects radially and coperates with the beforementioned terminals 60 and 61, said arm being preferably curved in cross-section, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, in order to permit the same to move freely along the contact-surfaces of the said terminals and to properly wipe said contact-surfaces. As a point 66 engages the casing projection 67, while the whole lower edge of the body portion 64 engages the receiver-locking element 8, there is considerable friction between the IOO IOS

ISO

vro

' receiver to be placed between any pair ofitsswitch-arm and the said receiver-locking element, while there is practically only pivotal engagement between the said switcharm and the said casing projection 67. Therefore the said switch-arm is compelled to move with the said receiver-locking element. At the same time, however, there is only frictional engagement between said receiverlocking. element andsaid switch-arm, so that the said receiver-locking element can be turned about its pivot in order to permit the arms 9.

I am awarethat minor changesv in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the severalpartsof my device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature andl principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a coin-returning mechanism or the like, a casing provided wi-th a receiving-raceway for leading a coin into said casing, ay delivery-raceway for leading a coiny from said casing to the depositor, and a coin-receptacle, a lever, and a coin-supporting plate along one side of said lever and obstructing the passage between said receiving and delivery raceways, said plate having an upturned end projecting. beyond the edge of said lever and obstructing. the passage between said supporting-plate and said coin-receptacle; substantially as described.

2'. In a mechanism of the character indicated,V the combination with a locking element, of mechanism for releasing. said element, mechanism for returning a coin, and means for operating both of said mechanisms from a single source; substantially as described.

3. In a mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a lockable member, and a locking element therefor, of mechanism for releasing said locking element, a second operative mechanism, means for operating said releasing mechanism and said second operative mechanism from a single source, and means whereby when said lockable member isin locked position said releasing mechanism is rendered operable and -when said lockable member is in unlocked position said second operative mechanism is rendered operable; substantially as described.

4. In a mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a lockable member, and a-locking element therefor, of mechanism for releasing said locking element, a second operativel mechanism, means for operating said releasing mechanism and said second operative mechanism from a single source, and means carried by said lockable member and adapted when said member is in locked position to render said releasingmechanism operable and when said member 1s inv respectivemechanisms, and a switch member-v electrically connected to said source of energy and adapted to con-tactwith either of said terminals substantially as described.

6. In a mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a lockable member, and a locking element therefor, of releasing mechanism coperating with said locking element and including an electrically controlled member, a coin-returning mechanism also including an electrically-controlled member, electrically-disconnectedv terminals, a switch-arm movable with said lockable member and adapted to contact with either of `said terminals, a source of electrical energy,

connectionbetween said source of energy and each of said electrically-controlled members,

.connection between said source of energy and said switch, and connection between said re-; spective terminals and the electrically-controlled members of said respective mechanisms; substantially as described.

7. In a mechanism ofthe character indicated, the combination with a lockable member, of a terminal, a coperating. terminal movable with said lockable member, said lockable member having movement independent oi said coperating terminal in the direction of movement of said coperating terminal, and means for limiting the movement of said coperating terminal; substantially as described.

8. In a mechanismot the character indicated, the combination with a rotatable lockable member having a plurality oi lockingarms whereby said lockable member is operative in a plurality of positions, of a terminal, and a coperating terminal movable with said lockable member, said lockable member having movement independent of said coperating terminal in the direction otmovement of said coperating terminal; substantially as described..

9. In a mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a rotatable lockable element, of terminals having stop members, and a coperating. terminal movable with said lockable element,l said lockable member having .movement independent of said coperating. terminal inthe direction of IOO movement of said coperating terminal, said cooperating terminal being movable between said stop members; substantially as described. y

10. In a mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a 4rotatable lockable member, of a terminal, a cooperating terminal in frictional driving connection with said lockable member, and means for limiting the movement of said cooperating terminal; substantially as described.

11. In a mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a movable member, and a bearing-plate, of a switch-arm held between said movable member and said bearing-plate and having substantially' a point bearing upon said bearing-plate at a point coincident with the axis of movement of said movable member, and a relatively broad bearing-surface bearing upon said movable zo member; substantially as described.

12. In a mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with arotatable member, and a bearing-plate, of a switch-arm of resilient material having substantially a point bearing upon said bearing-plate over substantially the aXis of movement of said pivoted member and having a relatively broad bearing-surface bearing upon said pivoted member; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto a'fiX my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 27th day of January, 1903.

RUDOLPH WM, GOEB.

Witnesses GALEs P. MOORE, GEORGE BAKEWELL. 

